Chapter 67
Leave the interrogation room and return to Xuanzheng Hall.
Liu Che asked Liu Ju, "What do you think about Liu Ling's affairs?"
Liu Ju thought for a moment and said, "It has been almost two years since Liu Ling's defeat. She hid her son well when she was alive, and left a way out after her death. She must have escaped without a trace by now, and she might even have wiped out both ends of the enemy."
"There's a vast sea of people, and the other party is trying to hide. Liu Ling's men have almost all been wiped out, leaving no place for interrogation. We have no direction, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to find them.
"But if he just wants to live peacefully and doesn't plan to show up, it's not a big deal. If he does show up, it's much easier. If he moves, he'll leave a mark. We can then arrest him."
Liu Che nodded. That was indeed the truth. But just because it was hard to find didn't mean it was impossible. Waiting for the other party to make a move wasn't his style, so he still had to investigate.
Liu Che ignored this point and asked, "Where is the money?"
"Liu Ling has many loyal followers, but I don't think anyone would offer such a large sum of money just to please her. Madam Li speculates about the alliance..."
Liu Ju frowned and continued, "If they were allies, there wouldn't be many who would collaborate with Liu Ling in a rebellion. Especially with someone like Liu Ling, if she were to die, she'd definitely want to drag everyone down with her."
"That's exactly what she did in the beginning. But why did she let this 'ally' go, allowing 'him' to become completely invisible? She made Liu Ling keep his mouth shut, even risking his life to protect him, not saying a single word. How could he have the ability to make Liu Ling go to such lengths for him?
"Furthermore, this 'he' not only needs to have a very rich financial resource to support Liu Ling, but also needs to be able to remain unnoticed. You have to understand that this isn't just a small amount of money, it's a huge sum, and he has been supporting Liu Ling for over ten years. How could he not leave any traces?
"After Liu Ling's fall, we conducted a thorough investigation and found no other colluders. Unless 'he' and Liu Ling have had no contact in recent years, it's impossible. But so-called contact doesn't just include letters and meetings, it also includes items and money."
Liu Che nodded. Financial connections were also connections, especially when large sums of money had been flowing for years.
"If he had such ability and financial resources, he could have spent them on himself and rebelled on his own. Why bother supporting Liu Ling? If he had helped Liu Ling succeed and Huainan ascended the throne, he would have been nothing more than a powerful minister.
"If he only wants a powerful official, he can offer money and property, and the emperor can still satisfy him without him having to risk the extermination of his entire clan. So why should he be a sucker for Liu Ling?
"As for using Liu Ling as his spearhead, Huainan as his vanguard, and him stalking the cicada while waiting for the oriole to come? The throne is so easy to snatch. Once Huainan takes the throne, whether he can seize it, and with what position, is unknown. How can he do it himself safely?
"Furthermore, although Liu Ling was defeated, she's not stupid and has her own pride. How could she be willing to be someone else's knife handle? In her opinion, she is the only one who uses others as a knife, not others who use her as a knife."
Liu Che raised his eyes: "So you think an alliance is impossible."
Liu Ju thought for a moment and said, "The possibility is too small, extremely unlikely. But if it's treasure, then it seems even more impossible that Liu Ling got such a large amount of treasure. After we took control of Huainan, we didn't find any unknown gold or silver mines."
Liu Ju sighed, feeling that his analysis had reached a dead end.
Liu Che's eyes flashed: "Liu Ling tried to win over the royal relatives and officials from all sides. He gave them not only gold and silver coins, but also some precious items."
Liu Ju understood the meaning of the music: "Let them all report and see if we can find some clues from here!"
Liu Che chuckled and continued, "Besides, if there really is such a treasure, it must be in the hands of Liu Ling's son now. This amount of money is too huge. If he wants to hide his identity and live a peaceful life, he can't use it. Even if he does, he can only take a tiny amount.
"Anything too grand will inevitably leave traces. Now that we know about this, we can keep a close eye on it."
Liu Ju's eyes lit up: "If he doesn't move, that's fine. As soon as he moves, we can find his tracks and take him and his money away."
It was obvious that the focus was not on the people but on the money.
Liu Che: ...suddenly lost his words.
The corner of his mouth twitched as he asked again, "Now that we've discussed Liu Ling's affairs, what do you think of Wang's actions?"
"Ah?" Liu Ju was stunned.
"Zhang Tang reported back and found out that she wanted to dethrone you and replace you with Hong'er."
Liu Ju was stunned for half a second, then waved his hand casually: "Hasn't she done it yet?"
Liu Che: ???
"Whether it's supporting Madam Li, helping the poor, or marrying off the daughters of my family, at least they haven't reached the point of targeting me.
"Even if these aren't for targeting me in the future, they're necessary simply for the Wang family to remain in Chang'an, for the clan to prosper, and for them to officially join the ranks of powerful officials and nobles."
Supporting the poor, making friends, and expanding the family circle are all ways to strengthen the family.
If we put aside his feelings towards Liu Ju, these actions were actually not wrong.
Liu Ju sighed softly, "No matter how she behaves in the future, for now, I haven't been attacked by her, nor have I suffered any losses from her actions. So I'm only judging her actions, not her heart."
Of course, if he knows what others are thinking, he doesn't mind "fishing enforcement".
If the other party behaves cowardly in the face of "fishing enforcement", which is a typical case of having the desire but not the courage, then he doesn't have to care at all, because he will have to bear it for the rest of his life anyway.
If you are facing "fishing enforcement" and the other party makes any unusual movements, then there will be "traces" and you can deal with them based on the traces.
Liu Ju blinked, feeling that his thinking was not wrong. However, Mrs. Wang was already doomed, so there was no need for him to "fish for law enforcement," so he might as well not say anything.
Liu Che sneered: "You are quite generous."
"I'm not being very generous. I just..." Liu Ju glanced at Liu Che, "I just feel that things like this are not her fault at all, but the fault of the emperor. If the emperor believes in me, everything she does is in vain; if the emperor doesn't believe in me..."
Liu Ju paused for a moment and said, "If the emperor doesn't believe me, even if she isn't there, there will be someone else."
After saying this, Liu Ju lowered his head, looking lonely.
Liu Che paused slightly, and just as he was about to say something, Liu Ju threw himself into his arms, "Father! Don't disbelieve me. No matter what, you are my father, the one I respect the most and love the most. I don't want anything. I don't want power, wealth, or achievements. As long as you don't doubt me."
Liu Che was stunned, not just because of these words, but because Liu Ju's body was actually trembling slightly, and even his clothes on his chest where Liu Ju was lying were a little wet.
Liu Ju was crying and he was scared.
Liu Che's heart skipped a beat: "According to my..."
"Father, if...if one day you no longer trust me, or my existence makes you unhappy and uncomfortable, then...then let me go."
Liu Che's expression changed: "Let you go? Where to?"
Liu Ju took a deep breath and said, “Father, the Han Dynasty, Nanyue, Xiongnu, the Western Regions, etc., these are the territories and states that we know and can reach;
"Beyond this, further south, lies Sindhu, a country we have heard of but never visited; further east, across the ocean, lie numerous islands and new lands we have never visited or heard of.
"Some of these places have average resources, while others are rich, comparable to those in the Central Plains. Some have established states with subjects, while others are still in the primitive, barbaric era of indigenous peoples.
"Father, our vision shouldn't be limited to the Han territory, nor should we focus solely on the Xiongnu's Western Regions. There are many more places waiting for us to explore, to open up, and to conquer.
"If that day ever comes, Father, please let me go. I can choose a piece of pure land, start from scratch, and build my own home. Even if it's barren, I can make it fertile; even if it's desolate, I can make it prosperous.
"But all of this will take time, a very long time. In our lifetimes, they won't be able to cross the Han Dynasty, let alone pose a threat to it. Especially since these places are very far away. So far away that you don't even have to worry about my return.
"I will be watching you from across the sea, wishing you a long and prosperous life. Father, I always hope for the best. This way, even though we are far apart, we can be safe and sound, which is better than..."
It was better than anything else. Liu Ju's voice was choked with sobs, unable to speak. But he understood what he hadn't said, and so did Liu Che.
Liu Che felt as if he was hit by a heavy hammer in the heart, the pain was unbearable and breathing was difficult.
He gritted his teeth, raised his hand and slapped Liu Ju on the head.
Pop.
Liu Ju groaned, feeling aggrieved: "Father?"
"Nonsense! I never said I didn't trust you. What are you doing going to this remote and barren land? Exile?"
Liu Ju lowered his head and said nothing. He muttered to himself, "It's not all barren land. Some of it's quite good."
Liu Che took a deep breath, pulled Liu Ju into his arms and hugged him tightly. His voice was gentle and firm, but unconsciously trembled slightly.
"No. Ju'er, don't worry. Why wouldn't I believe you? It's just Wang's wishful thinking, but it's not worth it for you to have such wild thoughts. You and I are father and son, and we are not something that others can easily separate. If they dare, I will chop off their heads!"
The last sentence reveals the murderous intent.
Liu Ju hugged him back and said, "Okay. I won't let my imagination run wild. Father believes in me, and I believe in him too."
Seeing that he had stopped thinking, Liu Che breathed a sigh of relief, but then he began to think carefully about his words.
His son knows how to use power, but is not keen on it. Especially since his son has such a broad vision and his heart is filled with the world and the vast universe. How could he fight with him and his son for the mere Central Plains?
Liu Che's expression flickered. "Zi'er, those many unknown islands and new continents you mentioned, were they... known to the Immortal Realm?"
Liu Ju did not answer, which was his agreement.
Liu Che's heart was pounding. "I heard that Xu Fu wrote to the First Emperor about the three immortal mountains of Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou on the sea. Is this the new continent across the ocean you're talking about..."
Liu Ju: ???
This has nothing to do with Xu Fu. How on earth did you connect it to Xu Fu? Liu Ju was almost driven crazy by his imagination.
"Father, there is no immortal mountain in the world!"
Liu Che's face was filled with visibly disappointed.
Liu Ju was speechless and had to emphasize again: "Father, there are no immortal mountains or fairylands in the world."
After saying this, he thought about it and felt that it would not be an exaggeration to call the future generations he knew in his mind, the era mentioned in the barrage, a "fairyland".
Then he added, "At least there are no fairylands that we can reach. They are separated from us by a vast distance in time and space, and we cannot communicate with them, and it will never be possible."
Far away in time and space? Does that mean the time and space in Wonderland are different from theirs?
Fairy mountains are not in the mortal world, and mortals cannot enter fairyland.
The difference between immortals and mortals is as great as the chasm between heaven and earth. Liu Che understood this. If not, why do we never see immortals appear in the mortal world, nor do we ever see others ascend to the immortal realm?
It seems that if one wants to seek adventures in fairyland, one may have to be on the verge of death or already dead to hope for such an opportunity.
But whether he was dying or dead, Liu Che didn't want to choose.
He hugged Liu Ju a little tighter. If there were a fairy mountain on the sea, he was afraid that if he disappointed Liu Ju, he would be disheartened and would simply use the opportunity of exploring the New World to find the fairy mountain, never to return, and never want him again.
If there were no immortal mountain, he would not let Liu Ju take the risk in a completely unknown distant land.
The force of Liu Che's embrace became stronger and stronger. If Zhang Tang had not asked for a meeting in time, Liu Ju almost thought he was going to be strangled to death.
Zhang Tang's arrival rescued him and brought Liu Che back to his senses.
He came to report.
"Your Majesty, I have, in accordance with your command, given Madam Li poisoned wine, and she has died after drinking it. Furthermore..." Zhang Tang paused, "Madam Wang also committed suicide."
Liu Che was stunned for a moment, not surprised, and showed no expression.
Zhang Tang continued, "Madam Wang left a blood letter for Your Majesty."
"Show it up."
"promise."
Zhang Tang presented it with both hands, and Liu Ju watched from the side. Every word written in blood was written with tears, and his clothes were covered with it, but it could be summarized into a few points.
First, he confessed his crimes and expressed regret.
Second, he recalled the many sweet pasts with Liu Che and was grateful for the opportunity to serve him.
Third, she stated that Liu Hong was still young and that her actions had nothing to do with him, and asked Liu Che not to blame her. Finally, she made a humble plea, saying that she was unworthy of being the mother of a prince, and begged Liu Che to choose an adoptive mother for Liu Hong, recognize her as his biological mother, and forget about her from then on, severing all ties with her.
The last point shows that Mrs. Wang loves her son deeply, which is exactly what Liu Che wants.
No matter what Lady Wang thought, Liu Hong was Liu Che's biological son after all. Lady Wang did not want Liu Hong to be burdened by her, and Liu Che did not want his son to remember such a mother.
But he did not express his opinion on the spot. He put the blood letter aside, waved Zhang Tang away, and pulled Liu Ju to his side: "What do you think?"
"Madam Wang is overthinking. My brother is only two years old. How could he understand her thoughts, or know her various plots and deeds? This has nothing to do with my brother. My brother is young, and Madam Wang is gone. She should have chosen someone to raise him."
Liu Che nodded and smiled.
His son could judge Lady Wang's sinister intentions by her actions rather than her true feelings, so how could he vent his anger on Liu Hong?
Liu Hong is a prince and has such luck. What qualifications do others have?
A cold glint flashed in Liu Che's eyes. There were some things that Juer could ignore, but he couldn't. He needed to make the decision for Juer, to deter any future thoughts that might arise, and to demonstrate his own firm stance.
So, the next day, Liu Ju heard the final outcome of the case.
Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Li are dead, so there is no need to mention them anymore.
As for the rest of the Li family, even if it was found out that Li Yannian and his family were indeed unaware that Madam Li was an imposter, it was still considered negligence. They were stripped of all their official positions, expelled from the country, sentenced to five years in prison, and never employed again, and were not allowed to enter Chang'an again.
As for the Wang family, Wang Dalang and Wang's parents who participated in the execution were sentenced to death, and the rest who did not participate but knew about it but did not report it were also sentenced to death.
Knowing the truth here not only refers to knowing about the two cases six years ago and six years later, but also refers to knowing about Mrs. Wang’s "ambition".
The rest of those who knew nothing, regardless of gender, those over ten years old would be exiled, and those under ten years old could be redeemed with money, but would be consigned to the slave class.
People of low status were not allowed to serve as officials in the imperial court, purchase land or property, or marry nobles. Unless they were granted amnesty, granted grace, or had performed great merit, they could not be easily removed from or changed to a lower status.
This kind of punishment is indeed severe. The court and the harem knew it very well. It was a real wake-up call to everyone, shocking both those who had ulterior motives and those who didn't.
********
Qionghua Pavilion.
When E Yi came over, he happened to see the beautiful lady Yu coming out of the palace.
This woman had been in the palace for only two years, so while she was no longer a newcomer, she was not yet an old one. She did not enjoy much favor from the emperor, but Liu Che would occasionally visit her once or twice when he felt like it.
E Yi greeted her and went straight inside. He asked Li Ji, "Mother, is Lady Yu here to raise my second brother?"
Li Ji nodded.
Liu Che did not issue any orders, but instead gave Wei Zifu full authority to arrange this matter. Wei Zifu privately asked Li Ji about her wishes. Li Ji had already been promoted to Concubine, and if she raised Liu Hong, she could take the opportunity to be promoted to another rank in the future.
E Yi held her hand: "Mother, what do you think?"
"Mother doesn't want to have any more children, whether biological or adopted."
Eyi was stunned.
"When my mother surrendered to the Queen, she had made it clear that she would not have any more children. She knew that, given the Queen's character, since she asked me privately, it wasn't a test, but a sincere one.
"If I agree, she will most likely give the Second Prince to me, but I don't want that. I don't have any other strengths, but I also understand that once I've promised something, I should do it."
Li Ji smiled, without any reluctance in her expression, but rather she was happy with it.
She only needed Eyi, and didn't need another child to divide her mind and energy. She just wanted to live a good life and make plans for Eyi.
E Yi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Li Ji continued, "Mother is old and doesn't want to bother with anything. Now that she's like this, with the Empress's support and His Majesty occasionally visiting once or twice, that's enough."
Thinking of her temperament and age, E Yi felt relieved: "That's fine. What about Lady Yu, what are you going to do, mother?"
"She came to ask about my attitude, and I told her the truth. Seeing that I had no such intention, she wanted me to speak in her favor to the Queen. After all, the Second Prince is His Majesty's only son, so how could His Majesty not care about him?
"Raising the Second Prince not only means having a prince by her side, but also more opportunities with His Majesty. Naturally, she wants to fight for it. I told her that I would tell the Queen her thoughts, but the Queen has the final say on the decision."
E Yi nodded: "Mother, just pass on a message. There's no need to get involved too much."
If she were to go to the Western Regions, the round trip would take at least several years, and the person she was most worried about was Li Ji. But now it seemed that Li Ji had found the most suitable and comfortable way, and she didn't need to worry too much.
Li Ji held E Yi's hand, patted it gently, and laughed silently.
She knew everything E Yi was worried about. She would try her best. Even if she still couldn't help E Yi, at least she would never be a burden to E Yi again.
********
When Liu Ju came to Zhao's house again, Zhao Guo and Wang Wanyi had just come back from seeing off Li Yannian and others.
Liu Ju casually asked, "Have you recognized your relationship with the Li family? Is everything going well?"
Wang Wanyi's expression was uneasy. She bowed and replied, "I never thought I wasn't a biological child of the Wang family. My parents were really kind to me. Perhaps... perhaps my bond with my adoptive parents is deeper than my bond with my biological father and brother."
This was said politely, but Liu Ju understood.
The family reunion scene wasn't very heartwarming.
It's easy to imagine that the Li family, relying on Madam Li, was on the verge of success and a promising future. Wang Wanyi's sudden lawsuit not only put an end to their path to success, but also convicted them, effectively ending their path to advancement. How could anyone possibly have any regard for Wang Wanyi?
If things go well, at most their friendship will be weak; if things go badly, they might even blame Wang Wanyi for being alive and for appearing there.
However, judging from Wang Wanyi's expression, she didn't seem to care much about what the Li family thought. She just wanted to know her life experience as a formality.
She knelt down and bowed deeply to Liu Ju: "Thank you, Your Highness, for uncovering the truth for me, arresting the real culprit, redressing my past grievances, and relieving my current danger. Your Highness, I will never forget this great kindness."
"That's not necessary. Since I've made a promise, I must keep it. Putting that aside, I came here today for another matter."
Liu Ju waved for the person behind him to come out and introduced her, "This is Yi Shuo, the elder sister of Yi Zong, the magistrate of Changling County. She is also the best female physician in the world. When the empress dowager was alive, she treated her. After the empress dowager passed away, she nursed her mother back to health.
"She specializes not only in treating internal organs and women's illnesses, but also external injuries and burns, and is adept with acupuncture. I see you're a little frail, and I suspect it's a lingering illness from the fire. Let her examine you."
Zhao Guo and Wang Wanyi were stunned at the same time, both overjoyed, and bowed deeply again.
Wang Wanyi burst into tears: "Your Highness's kindness, I am afraid that even if I work like a slave in my next life, I will never be able to repay you."
Liu Ju waved his hand. "I don't want an afterlife, nor do I want you to work like a slave. If you really want to repay me, please help me urge Zhao Guo to pay more attention to farming, to produce one or two more things, or to quickly figure out how to increase production. That would be better than anything else."
He was still hoping that Zhao Guo would come up with the Daitian method sooner rather than later. This little investment was nothing.
Wang Wanyi, who had already taken these words as sacred, nodded firmly, "Your Highness, rest assured. I will supervise and encourage you every day, and assist you in serving Your Highness."
Liu Ju was very satisfied. He gave Yi Shuo a few words and turned back to the palace. He did not go to the East Palace or the Pepper Palace, but instead went to play with Shi Yi. He had not played with his fourth sister for a long time.
Unexpectedly, the two had just come out of the princess's palace and had not walked far when they were bumped into by a little guy. Behind the little guy, the beautiful lady Yu and her maids were chasing after him anxiously.
Liu Ju lowered his head and said, "Oh, who else could this little guy be but Liu Hong?"
"Why are you so reckless and rushing around like that? What happened?"
It would have been fine if Liu Ju hadn't asked. But as soon as he did, Liu Hong burst into tears and threw herself into his arms: "Brother Crown Prince, my mother...will my mother never come back?"
Liu Ju was speechless and didn't know how to start for a moment.
Jade Beauty came forward, exchanged greetings with Liu Ju, then went to take Liu Hong's hand and said softly, "Don't cry, Second Prince. Let's go back. I asked someone to make you your favorite cakes. Let's go eat, okay?"
Liu Hong slapped her hand away: "I don't want to go back with you."
Lady Yu was a little embarrassed. Seeing Liu Ju looking at her, she hurriedly explained, "His Majesty and the Queen ordered me to take care of the Second Prince. Today is the day the Second Prince moves to the palace. But the Second Prince..."
Obviously Liu Hong was unwilling.
Liu Hong looked up at Liu Ju, aggrieved, "I don't know her and don't want to go with her. Prince, I... I know my mother won't be able to come back, but... can I... can I live with you?"
Liu Ju: ???
What the hell, he came to support Liu Hong? He's still a child, no no no!
Liu Ju waved his hand and refused: "I still need someone to take care of me and educate me, how can I raise you? It's not suitable."
The light in Liu Hong's eyes dimmed, and he asked, "Then can I live with my mother?"
Liu Ju refused again: "My mother has many duties in the palace. I already have three daughters and a son, my elder sister and I. I am afraid I will not be able to take good care of them."
Liu Hong hung his head dejectedly, tears falling silently. "I'm very good. I won't cause any trouble to you. I really will be good... I don't have anyone else I'm familiar with. Brother Crown Prince, I... I'm scared..."
Jade Beauty sighed, her voice softening. "Second Prince, I can take good care of you. His Majesty will come to see you often. Although we're not familiar with each other now, we'll naturally get to know each other after a few days."
Liu Ju echoed, "Go ahead, don't be afraid. Jade Beauty was chosen by Father and Mother, so don't worry. You can still come and play with me on weekdays. If you have any problems or have suffered any grievances, you can come to Father or me."
Liu Hong had no choice but to leave with Yu Meiren, but he kept looking back and looking at Liu Ju with an extremely resentful look.
After he walked away, Shi Yi rolled his eyes fiercely: "He is young, but he is very cunning and can scheme for himself. How can following you or the Queen Mother be compared with following the Jade Beauty? He is really scheming, worthy of being born to Lady Wang."
Liu Ju was speechless. "Don't you think you're being too conspiratorial? He's only a little over two years old, how could he have such thoughts? He's young and has little contact with the concubines. In the past, it was only because Lady Wang wanted to pretend that he would spend more time with me and my mother.
"Now he's faced a great change. His biological mother is gone, and his father can't care for him. He was already anxious and uneasy, and being given away makes him even more uneasy. It's only natural that he wants to find someone he's familiar with."
Shi Yi curled her lips. Even though she knew that what Liu Cheng said was reasonable, she still disagreed. Anyway, she just didn't like Lady Wang, and she also disliked Liu Hong. She couldn't help but think of the worst. What could she do?
Even though he was young, he was taught by Lady Wang, so he might not be ignorant. Moreover, even if he didn't understand, given the current situation in the palace, it's possible that he had heard some rumors and made such a move.
Of course, Liu Ju had thought of this as well. He frowned slightly, turned around and instructed Feng He, "Go find Yu Meiren and quietly tell her to keep an eye on things."
Because he was not familiar with Lady Yu and did not know her well, he added, "Li Ji and Lady Yu live close together, so please inform Li Ji as well."
Feng He accepted the order: "Yes."
Shi Yi rolled his eyes again: "It's none of your business, why do you care so much?"
Liu Ju spread his hands and said, "It's just a simple task for me to pass on a message. It doesn't take much effort on my part."
Shi Yi pursed his lips and said, "Are we going to play in Chiyuan?"
Liu Ju nodded quickly: "Yes."
However, after the two of them had walked a few steps, news came from the front hall that the military report from the front had arrived in Beijing.
Liu Ju immediately abandoned Shiyi and ran towards the Xuanshi Hall.
Shi Yi: ...looking up at the sky in silence.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
